r/Internationaltrade

What are the major commodities I can export from Ireland to Africa and Asia in 2026

I’m currently working with lumber suppliers in British Columbia, Canada and looking to connect with buyers/importers in Asia interested in Canadian softwood products such as Western Red Cedar, Hemlock, and Douglas Fir.

Does anyone have advice on how to better find buyers/importers in the Chinese/Asian market? I’ve had some success reaching out to and speaking with companies in the European market, but the same methods don’t seem to work as well for China/Asia.

Any advice, networking tips, platforms, or industry contacts would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to DM me or comment below. Thanks!

So friend of ours is in charge of the sales and purchasing department the massive meat distributor in the Balkans and they've pretty much given us the ability to supply them with 100 metric tons of chicken gizzards every month (they already have other suppliers giving them the gizzards but this is just a way to help us out and start) and all we have to do is just find someone to pretty much send the order to them. Problem is I have dealt for years with China on products in chemicals and hardware so I've experienced now and then the occasional scam which makes me really paranoid because I've gone on the B2B marketplace I have collected quotes but I just don't trust any of these companies yet especially with tens of thousands of dollars up front to start the shipment but I do need to find a supplier soon that I trust and that is profitable before me and my partner lose this opportunity so I was hoping someone here could recommend places that are possibly legitimate and really easy to find if someone is a real supplier / producer of the chicken product especially since if this contract goes well they want it every month and it could lead to access to a lot of other meat products.

Does anyone know/own an export company through which I can get some info about Export Complaince?

https://preview.redd.it/ra1zuubxco0h1.png?width=2816&format=png&auto=webp&s=d78190e89f37d1bd329df457ab8647a09ea64f03

One thing I’ve been noticing, how aggressively buyers and sellers try to eliminate middlemen/traders/commission agents from deals.

And honestly, I understand why.

Direct deals can:

• reduce commissions,
• improve direct communication,
• and sometimes increase margins for both sides.

But, I also feel people underestimate how much experienced intermediaries actually contribute behind the scenes — especially in FMCG/agri export-import businesses.

A good trader/middleman often does much more than just “connect two parties.”

They usually help with:

• finding reliable buyers/suppliers,
• price negotiation,
• communication gaps,
• sourcing flexibility,
• logistics coordination,
• payment comfort,
• follow-ups,
• trust-building,
• and sometimes even saving deals when things start going wrong.

Especially in international trade, where:

• cultures differ,
• expectations differ,
• communication gaps happen,
• and trust is everything.

I’ve seen many people assume:
“Why involve a middleman when buyer and seller can deal directly?”

But in reality, direct deals can also create challenges like:

• poor coordination,
• inconsistent communication,
• pricing misunderstandings,
• delayed responses,
• trust issues,
• or operational confusion.

Of course, not every intermediary adds value. That’s also true.

But experienced sourcing agents/traders who genuinely understand the ecosystem often reduce friction rather than increase it.

I honestly think the most efficient trade ecosystem is not:
buyer vs middleman vs seller

…but:
buyer + middleman + seller working efficiently together.

Because at the end of the day, global trade is not just about products.

It’s also about:

• relationships,
• coordination,
• reliability,
• and keeping business moving smoothly between different parts of the world.

Curious to know how others here see this.

Do you think middlemen in global trade are becoming less relevant, or do they still play a major role in keeping deals practical and efficient?

In international trade, even a small documentation error can delay shipments, increase costs, or create customs issues.

Some of the most important export documents include:

• Commercial Invoice
• Packing List
• Bill of Lading / Airway Bill
• Certificate of Origin
• Product-specific certificates (if required)

Many export problems happen not because of the product, but because information between supplier, freight forwarder, and buyer is not aligned properly.

Good coordination and accurate paperwork are just as important as pricing in global trade.